Deandre Ayton is convinced he's going No. 1 to the Phoenix Suns

Deandre Ayton is convinced he’s going No. 1 to Suns

By Jason Patt | Jun 7, 2018

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 15: NBA Draft Prospect, Deandre Ayton poses for a portrait during the 2018 NBA Combine circuit on May 15, 2018 at the Intercontinental Hotel Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Deandre Ayton is pretty confident that he’ll be the top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

When the Phoenix Suns won the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the discussion quickly turned to whether they would take Deandre Ayton or Luka Doncic. The Suns had just hired Jazz assistant and Doncic’s Slovenian national team coach, Igor Kokoskov, but Ayton spent his one year at Arizona and could be the dominant force in the middle Phoenix needs.

Ayton held a pre-draft workout and press conference with the Suns on Wednesday, and he certainly seems to think he has the No. 1 pick sewn up. The big man said he’s not working out for any other team because “I know I’m going No. 1,” per the Suns.

Ayton touted his competitiveness and talked up he and Devin Booker as a potential “Shaq and Kobe 2.0.” Booker and several other young Suns players were in attendance for Ayton’s workout, and apparently they all hung out and watched Game 3 of the NBA Finals in the evening. When you put it all together, it sure feels like Ayton will indeed go No. 1:

Suns general manager Ryan McDonough did say the team will host other potential top picks over the next week, because of course they’ll be doing their due diligence. McDonough also naturally had nothing but great things to say about Ayton and noted the big man’s ties to the area as a selling point.

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The 7-foot-1 Ayton was a beast at Arizona, averaging 20.1 points and 11.6 rebounds while shooting over 61 percent from the field. There are questions about his defense, but if he can answer those he can be the monster two-way player he wants to be.

Ayton, Booker and Josh Jackson is a tantalizing trio, and the Suns are still developing fellow youngsters Dragan Bender, Marquese Chriss and T.J. Warren. Phoenix also has the No. 16 pick and flexibility in free agency, so other moves could be made to help the franchise move forward. No matter who winds up going No. 1, the future is looking bright in the desert.

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